In an attempt to curb global water and land pollution, biodegradable plastics may seem like the right approach for proper waste management, however in a new United Nations report, this solution can lead to another bigger problem. 

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In this new report, a team of environmental scientists warn the public that using biodegradable plastics like bottles and shopping bags is just a false solution when it comes to solving worldwide pollution. More specifically, this report says that plastics are extremely durable and the amount of plastic waste that increases in any body of water such as rivers and canals, will accumulate into larger plastic debris, which can lead to spreading microplastics in ocean currents along the northern and southern polar regions.

These green plastics are first introduced to the public as a sustainable approach to reduce an enormous amount of plastic waste that ends up floating away into the sea from waste dumpsites. According to UN Environment Program chief scientist, Jacqueline McGlade, this is only a temporary solution in the reduction of plastic waste problems.

McGlade says that even if greener plastics are commercially available not only with the intention to lessen plastic wastage but to also create awareness, technically, these shopping bags will only be able to break down in temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius, which is not present in the oceans. Since these plastics are not buoyant and cannot float, they will definitely sink to the bottom of the ocean, in which they will no longer be exposed to UV rays and break down. 

Starting Monday, the UN Environment Assembly officially began in Nairobi, Kenya where expected guests and participants include environment ministers and agency officials from 178 countries, along with scientists, environmental organizations and industry executives. 

The UN aims to hold this assembly to encourage and implement greener global economies, where this global conversation will focus on policies and practices that lead to advanced environmental sustainability.

Apart from this, the assembly will also focus ion major environmental issues that will also include air pollution and illegal wildlife trade in order to carry out immediate action to improve environmental conditions and human health.

Tagsbiodegradable plastics, ocean pollution, water pollution, Pollution, waste pollution, UN, plastics, microplastics